Zoom have upgraded their popular entry-level audio recorder, the H1. The all new Zoom H1n comes with a bunch of new features and refinements, especially for indie video shooters. Let’s have a look, shall we?
Upgraded looks. That’s the first thing you’ll notice when examining the new Zoom H1n audio recorder. But the company didn’t stop just there, the engineers plunged deep into the H1 and upgraded the inner workings quite a bit. As a result we see a polished new housing, repositioned buttons and lots of new features.
Zoom H1n Audio Recorder
The original H1 recorder was very small and compact and so is the new Zoom H1n. The size and weight remains almost the same while the housing has evolved. This device is meant to be put in your pocket and carried wherever you go so you’re always ready to record something without adding any bulk to your bag.
the new Zoom H1n (top) vs the now discontinued H1 (bottom).
The biggest advantage to me personally is the fact that all the controls now can be found right on the front of the Zoom H1n. There’s now a dedicated dial for levelling the incoming signal, too. For such a device I always prefer more dedicated buttons and dials than less controls and a time-consuming menu structure.
Watch the introduction video below for a quick rundown of features:
Stereo X/Y 90° mics are on board but this entry-level recorder doesn’t feature any XLR connections. However, it does sport a ⅛” Mic/Line In jack so all you need is a powered mic in order to record external audio. The device provides up to 2.5V plug-in power. A headphone/Line Out jack can be found on the other side so a DSLR without any headphone out shouldn’t be an issue anymore.
Features
The Zoom H1n comes with some interesting new features for musicians and video shooters alike. For example, a new tone generator makes it easy to set your camera’s audio levels and to sync your recordings in post. You now can set the device to auto-record or pre-record, too.
Check out the full list of ne features here:
One-touch button controls
Stereo X/Y 90˚microphones handle up to 120 dB SPL
1.25” monochrome LCD display
Stereo ⅛” Mic/Line In mini phone jack
Stereo ⅛” Phone/Line Output jack with dedicated
Limiter button for input signal up to 120 dB SPL
Playback Speed Control, Voice Emphasize Filter,
and Stereo Bounce functions
Auto-Record, Pre-Record, and Self-Timer functions
Supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz audio in BWF-compliant
WAV or a variety of MP3 formats
Tone generator for filmmaking use with DSLR
and video cameras
Records directly to microSD and microSDHC cards up to 32 GB
Micro USB port for data exchange to and from computer
and use as an audio interface
Runs on only 2 standard AAA alkaline, Lithium, or
NiMH rechargeable batteries, or AC adapter (AD-17)
Up to 10 hours of operation with alkaline batteries
While a single AA battery was needed for the older H1, the Zoom H1n demands for 2 AAA batteries. These will juice the recorder for upt o 10 hours. For the sake of our environment you should use rechargable ones, of course.
Just as the H1, the H1n records supports up to 24.bit/96kHz audio in either WAV or mp3 (up to 320 kbps) formats. Also, the Zoom H1n can be used as an USB audio interface for your DAW of choice. Free versions of Steinberg’s Cubase LE music production suite and WaveLab LE audio editing software are bundeled with it.
SD cards (class 4 and up) are used for recording, the device will take cards up to 32GB. Check out the following chart for avarage recording times:
A single (and inexpensive) 32GB microSD card will record up to 15.5 hours worth of high quality 24bit/96kHz WAV audio. Not bad!
Pricing and Availability
The Zoom H1n sells for only $119.99 and is available now. It replaces the older H1 model, which has since been discontinued.
I think this is a worthy successor to the H1 recorder, especially for the price. With the new tone generator on board it could be a very capable companion for low-profile DSLR shoots. Or just take it with you wherever you go and capture some sounds for your upcoming edits.
link: Zoom
Do you own a Zoom audio recorder? What do think of this tiny device, is it worth an upgrade? Let us know in the comments below!

At NAB we took a closer look at the new Sound Devices MixPre-3 and MixPre-6 audio recorders that double as a usb-interface and bring pro audio to DSLR shooters. The MixPre Series in fact is Sound Devices’ first foray into the DSLR market. Small camera manufacturers tend to treat audio as a bit of an afterthought, but the MixPre promises to solve that with 8 tracks, WAV Poly format recording, high-quality preamps and a maximum sampling rate of 192kHz (MixPre-6). All the details and a full spec comparison below.
Sound Devices MixPre Audio Recorders
We originally reported on this announcement just before NAB, but thought we would visit the folks over at the Sound Devices booth to take a closer look at their new MixPre Series.
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder
Designed with small cameras such as the Panasonic GH5 or Sony a7S II in mind, both the Sound Devices MixPre-3 and Sound Devices MixPre-6 have Class-A mic preamps created by Sound Devices engineers. You can also feed timecode using the 3.5mm Aux/Mic in port, making it useful for professional productions where multiple cameras are in play.
Here is the intro video to the Sound Devices MixPre series:
The Sound Devices MixPre-6 is the larger of the two and features 6 inputs/8 tracks that can record to SD, SDHC or SDXC cards in WAV Poly. The base model (MixPre-3) has 3 inputs/5 tracks and a maximum sampling rate of 96kHZ, versus 192kHz for the larger model.
You can power the Sound Devices MixPre series audio recorders a variety of ways: directly from a wall, AAs, via USB, or via a Sony L-Series lithium ion battery. Both models can accept a sled for either 4 or 8 AAs (not included), giving you numerous options when it comes to powering the devices.
Below is a full comparison chat from Sound Devices that lays out all of the features in the Sound Devices MixPre-6 and Sound Devices MixPre-3:
What do you think? Will the MixPre Series find its way into your kit for your next DSLR production? Let us know below!

This might not be the perfect camera for everybody, but if you happen to be part time indie shooter and part time musician, the new Zoom Q2n just might be the perfect tool when it comes to quickly capturing your performance in both worlds, audio and video!
Meet the Zoom Q2n
Japanese company Zoom is well-known for their quality audio-capturing and recording devices, such as the famous Zoom H4n. A couple years back, they entered the market of smaller sized video cameras too, and now it seems that they are bringing it all together with the introduction of the Zoom Q2n.
It is basically a combination of one of their quality audio recording devices with one of their video cameras. The product is a completely new category of audiovisual capturing device, aimed for a very specific market. The result is pretty impressive, as this tiny device seems capable of capturing not only high quality audio, but quite decent video at the same time.
For shooting cinematic footage you would probably pick another camera, point taken. But for this very specific field of application the Zoom Q2n seems to be a very decent tool.
Specifications
Let’s break down the specs of this little device. Audio-wise the Zoom Q2n is equipped with built-in X/Y stereo microphones capable of handling sound levels up to 120 dB SPL, and it can record up to 24Bit 96kHz in a WAV container. For setting levels, there is a nice big dial there for you, with no fussing around with deep menu structures.
You can also use the device as a standalone audio recorder. There is a mini jack input on the side which takes either an external microphone or a line level source. For an external microphone, it’s important to mention that only “plug-in power” (5V DC ) is supported, not to be confused with phantom power (mostly rated at 48V DC). In terms of outputs, a combined headphone / line out mini jack can be found right next to the input jack.
Another way of using this tiny jack of all trades is to plug it into your DAW (digital audio workstation) via USB and record directly into your given project. Since it can handle up to 120 dB SPL (which is pretty loud) even badass drum solos shouldn’t be a problem. Have a look here:
On the video side of things, the Zoom Q2n records FullHD at up to 30fps through a fixed focus (36 cm – ∞) lens rated f2.0 with a 160˚ FOV (field of view), which translates roughly to 16.6 mm of focal length on a 35mm sensor equivalent. The codec used is a MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 within a MOV wrapper. The massive wide angle can be adjusted in five FOV steps: (×0.75 / ×0.85 / ×1.00 / ×1.30 / ×1.50). As I said, the specs are certainly not the greatest ever, but the resulting footage looks pretty good indeed.
For powering the Zoom Q2n, you need two AA batteries (batteries included), which will power the device for about two to three hours, depending on the video quality setting. An optional DC adapter can be purchased separately, as well as several accessories such as a windscreen, a hot shoe mount or a tripod adapter.
Pricing and Availability
The Zoom Q2n will hit the market by December and it will be priced at $159. For that price point, I think you get a lot of features in a very tiny package. But again, this is not for everybody.
Read more about the Zoom Q2n on their website.
Any musicians around here? What do you think, is this tiny Zoom Q2n something worth exploring? Let us know in the comments below!

Tascam was kind enough to send us their new creation, the DR-10SG. It is a combination of a standalone mountable mini audio recorder, as well as a directional shotgun microphone that you can connect to your DSLR mic jack. This new device is aimed towards “on the go shooters” who seek a better audio quality than the one their build-in camera microphone offers.
As we all know, some of the latest cameras from respected manufacturers do not offer a way to monitor sound. Maybe the biggest selling point for this device is the ability to monitor audio levels when connected to cameras without a headphone jack, with the Sony a6300 being a good example. In order to do that, you will need the Tascam DR-10SG and a mini jack 3.5mm splitter. One thing to consider: if you are looking for greater flexibility in regards to connecting professional microphones and wireless audio receiver to your camera or a recorder, then you might want to look at Tascam’s other offering, the DR-10X, a micro audio XLR recorder device that, at least on paper, looks as a perfect flexible mini recorder.
Back to the Tascam DR-10SG. Here are its main specifications at a glance:
Recording Media: microSD card (64 MB to 2 GB), microSDHC card (4 GB to 32 GB)
Recording Format: 16/24-bit @ 44.1/48 kHz
Mic Polarity: Super cardioid
Analog Outputs: Camera Out/Phones: 1/8″ (3.5 mm) stereo mini-jack (dual-mono signal)
USB micro-B
Power: 1 x AAA battery
USB bus power
Power Consumption: 0.75 W (maximum)
Battery Operating Time: (48 kHz/24-bit, Limiter/ Dual Rec: Off, File type: Mono), Lithium 15:00 hours, NiMH Battery 7:30 hours, Alkaline 8:30 hours.
Dimensions (W x H x D) 2.1 x 6.6 x 2.8″ (53 x 168 x 70.3 mm)
Weight 3.9 oz (110 g) including batteries
Pros:
The DR-10SG is very lightweight and will sit comfortably on your camera hot shoe.
The audio quality is sufficient for a run & gun shooting style and features adjustable EQ.
One triple-A battery will last for a good few hours and the device can also be powered externally via a USB connector.
You can record dual audio tracks in 2 different recording levels. I suggest not to fiddle with levels while shooting as the buttons are tiny…
So what needs improvement?
The device feels plasticky. I hope it can survive the daily filming routine.
What is really missing out of the box is an additional proper wind shield cover. The one provided is not enough.
Normal iPhone earbuds won’t work for monitoring. I guess it is an impedance thing…
You can’t start recording while browsing the menu. You need to exit the menu first, and then start recording.
Conclusion:
Personally, I wish that the mic polarity would have been even narrower. In addition, although the microphone itself has a nice suspension, it will easily pick up handling noise when operating the camera, so either place your camera on a rig or touch it gently while shooting.
Also, don’t expect the Tascam DR-10SG to replace your soundman or dedicated audio system. On the other hand, when running & gunning, this additional device will certainly produce better audio results from your built-in camera microphone. Furthermore, the built-in mini recorder will yield better audio recordings in comparison to the many of the DSLR/mirrorless cameras out there.

Japanese audio accessory maker Tascam has announced a newcomer to their growing family of audio recorders, the Tascam DR701D. We’re at Inter Bee 2015 and took a closer look at the new unit.
The uniqueness of this recorder is definitely a feature that lets you perfectly sync with the camera it is connected to by triggering the start/stop of recordings via HDMI connection.
I’m sure you will agree it is a very smart move from Tascam to include such a feature as we all learned to hate pressing REC buttons twice (Not to mention the times we forgot to press the REC button on the audio recorder…) and sync audio and video files in post.
As a sidenote: I was very curious to find out if sales of external audio recorders had declined because of the latest development of DSLR and mirrorless cameras, that achieve better audio recordings internally. I was very surprised to hear from several sources that sales have actually increased!
The main features of the new Tascam DR701D audio recorder:
Record 4 Channels + Stereo Mix
4 XLR/TRS Inputs with Phantom Power
Dual Built-In Omnidirectional Mics
Stereo 3.5mm In for Stereo Mic
3.5mm Camera In/Out
BNC In for Sync to LTC
HDMI In Can Receive Timecode From Camera
HDMI Out Can Send Audio & Incoming Video
Records Up to 24-Bit/192kHz
Mount to DSLR or Tripod
The new Tascam DR701D is already available for pre-order and expected to start shipping in about two months.

Røde just introduced the i-XLR, a digital iPhone XLR adaptor for Apple iOS devices that turns your iPhone into a high quality audio recorder.
The new Røde i-XLR is a lightning accessory that connects to your microphone’s XLR output on one and and to your iOS device on the other.
Using a new Røde app that will be introduced within the next two weeks, will enable you to bypass the iPhone’s audio processing and record audio in high quality.
It’s nice to see how this device might replace an audio recorder in some situations and give you a portable iPhone XLR alternative.
Pricing is yet to be determined and it will become available in the next months.
For more information visit rode.com

The Zoom F8 is an affordable yet serious 10-track field recorder made for professional sound designers and filmmakers, promising low-noise preamps and support for 24-bit/192kHz audio.
Zoom teased their professional 10-track field recorder at NAB in April. We didn’t have much information back then, but now the new device is actually here and it looks like its competing with professional audio tools like the legendary Sound Devices 664 for in-the-field mixing and recording.
The marketing campaign for the Zoom F8 field recorder is clearly directed at aspiring pro filmmakers and sound-recordists. The video promo they made is beautiful to watch, even though it doesn’t give too much away about the product’s functionalities:
At $999 the Zoom F8 is likely to become a revolutionary product in the sound-recording market as it could stir up the competition quite a bit depending on how well it actually performs.
It surely looks like a promising start for the company that has been quite successful in creating semi-pro small recorders. Let’s see what pro audio recordists have to say once they get the device in their hands.
It’s interesting to see the bluetooth connectivity the F8 provides, a remote control extension via the touch surface of iOS devices.
Zoom prides itself with numerous nice features on the F8:
Phantom power (+24V/+48V) can be turned on and off for each preamp individually.
10 tracks—8 input channels & a stereo mix track for simultaneous stereo & surround.
Onboard mixer with pre- and post-faders.
Each channel has controls for pan, input/output delay, filtering, and limiting.
Dual SD card recording
Three power sources (4-pin hirose 9-16V, AA batteries, or 12V AC)
Dual-channel recording to create safety tracks
Pre-recording functionality
Wireless Bluetooth control via iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
Time code I/O via BNC
The Zoom F8 field recorder is schedule to start shipping on September 5, 2015. Until the it can be pre-ordered for $999. There will also be several accessories available for the device like a dedicated bag etc.

Check out our follow up article with all the news about this device HERE.
Zoom announced a new 8 track field recorder at NAB this week. There isn’t much info available on it just yet, but they have teased some of the specs for now.
The Zoom F8 will be an 8 channel multi-track field recorder and mixer with four XLR / ¼ inputs on both sides. It includes a dual SD card reader, is powered by DC input or eight AA batteries, and even includes an internal timecode generator. It has 2 mini XLR outputs, a ¼ headphone jack, and a mini-sub output.
Zoom is known for their handheld audio recorders, but this is the first time they’ve presented a field mixer of this type. It will be available in the fourth quarter of this year but the price has not yet been set. More information will be available later this summer.
Specs
8 Channel
Four XLR / ¼ on both sides
Dual SD card readers
Internal timecode generator
Power: DC input or 8 AA batteries
Output: 2 mini XLR, ¼ headphone jack, mini-sub output